Prior to the start of training camp, there seemed to be a direction for the Arizona Cardinals quarterback room, at least to begin the season. However, the team always seemed destined for a quarterback battle, even if it was a formality, once camp began.
Earlier in the offseason, the expectation was that Jacoby Brissett would be the starting quarterback in Arizona. When he began camp running the third-string offense, it came off as a surprise.
However, all was fine as the Cardinals announced that Brissett and presumed backup Gardner Minshew would sit out the Hall of Fame Game, as most starters tend to do in the additional preseason game. That action allowed rookie quarterback Carson Beck to start and play into the second half.
Predicting the Arizona Cardinals’ quarterback room after the Hall of Fame Game
Did the rookie signal-caller make an impact? Absolutely. For a quarterback getting his first NFL action, Beck looked spectacular, and not at all like a rookie.
He threw for 188 yards and a touchdown, and completed nearly 79 percent of his passes. In addition, Beck looked like he knew what he was doing and was crisp with the ball and his decisions. A majority of his incompletions were either drops or throwaways, which, for a rookie, is a great sight, considering most will try to play hero early in their career.
However, it is vital to note that the Carolina Panthers did not play its starters either. Does that take away from Beck and his performance on Thursday? Absolutely not, but it is important to note the caliber of talent the quarterback was going up against.
What he did was make the quarterback competition much more difficult for the Cardinals, who recently gave Brissett a pay raise. Beck made it so that if either veteran slips up, the home crowd will voice displeasure and may want to see the rookie take over the starting job.
As for now, the prediction remains the same. Arizona did not give Brissett a raise simply to be a backup quarterback.
However, the backup job in the desert is a lot more in play. Beck may have played himself into the second quarterback role after what he did tonight. We shall see next Thursday, assuming Minshew plays.
The quarterback who enters that game first likely has the inside track for backup duties in Arizona. If Beck continues playing as he did on Thursday, there is a legitimate possibility that he wins that job.
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